Ivory Tower: Life skills training boosts student well-being, finds PAU study

IN a pioneering study conducted at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), researcher Neha Joshi from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, has demonstrated that targeted training in life skills can significantly enhance the socio-personal well-being of university students.

The four-phase study, guided by Dr Seema Sharma, Professor and Head of the Department, assessed 165 first-year undergraduate students across PAU’s constituent colleges. Of these, 60 students with low life skills scores were selected for a structured enrichment programme, equally divided across gender.

Using validated tools such as the Life Skills Assessment Scale, Quality of Life Scale and Meta-Cognitive Skills Scale, the study measured key indicators including self-awareness, empathy, decision-making, peer pressure and social relationships—both before and after the intervention.

“We found that many students, despite academic competence, lacked essential life skills that impact their emotional resilience and interpersonal effectiveness,” said Neha Joshi. “The enrichment programme was designed to address these gaps through interactive modules, group activities and reflective exercises.”

The results were striking. Post-intervention data revealed marked improvement across all dimensions of life skills, with students reporting better coping mechanisms, enhanced metacognitive awareness and stronger social bonds. Interestingly, while females showed higher gains in empathy and building relationships, males demonstrated notable improvement in planning and evaluation skills.

Dr Seema Sharma, who has mentored over a dozen postgraduate scholars and published extensively on youth development, emphasised the broader implications of the study. “In today’s fast-paced academic environment, emotional intelligence and self-regulation are just as critical as subject knowledge,” she said. “This research reinforces the need to integrate life skills education into

mainstream curricula.”

The study also highlighted how factors like parental education, family size and prior exposure to life skills training influenced student outcomes. With rising concerns over student stress, peer pressure and social isolation, the findings offer a timely roadmap for universities seeking holistic development models.

“Life skills are not just soft skills—they’re survival skills,” Joshi added. “When students learn to reflect, communicate and adapt, they’re better equipped to navigate both campus life and the challenges beyond.”

The research team hopes the study will encourage educational institutions to adopt similar interventions, especially for first-year students transitioning into higher education.

Ludhiana